Why The Classics
1
in the fourth book of the Peloponnesian War
Thucydides tells among other things
the story of his unsuccessful expedition
among long speeches of chiefs
battles sieges plague
dense net of intrigues of diplomatic endeavours
the episode is like a pin
in a forest
the Greek colony Amphipolis
fell into the hands of Brasidos
because Thucydides was late with relief
for this he paid his native city
with lifelong exile
exiles of all times
know what price that is
2
generals of the most recent wars
if a similar affair happens to them
whine on their knees before posterity
praise their heroism and innocence
they accuse their subordinates
envious colleagues
unfavourable winds
Thucydides says only
that he had seven ships
it was winter
and he sailed quickly
3
if art for its subject
will have a broken jar
a small broken soul
with a great self-pity
what will remain after us
will it be lovers' weeping
in a small dirty hotel
when wall-paper dawns
poem by Zbigniew Herbert
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Related quotes
We secure our friends not by accepting favors but by doing them.
Thucydides in Peloponnesian War
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Wars spring from unseen and generally insignificant causes, the first outbreak being often but an explosion of anger.
quote by Thucydides
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We Greeks are lovers of the beautiful, yet simple in our tastes, and we cultivate the mind without loss of manliness.
quote by Thucydides
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I believe it has been said that one copy of The Times contains more useful information than the whole of the historical works of Thucydides.
quote by Richard Cobden
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Few things are brought to a successful issue by impetuous desire, but most by calm and prudent forethought.
quote by Thucydides
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We secure our friends not by accepting favors but by doing them.
quote by Thucydides
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Ignorance is bold and knowledge reserved.
quote by Thucydides
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History is Philosophy teaching by examples.
quote by Thucydides
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Men naturally despise those who court them, but respect those who do not give way to them.
quote by Thucydides
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It is frequently a misfortune to have very brilliant men in charge of affairs. They expect too much of ordinary men.
quote by Thucydides
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The sufferings that fate inflicts on us should be borne with patience, what enemies inflict with manly courage.
quote by Thucydides
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The bravest are surely those who have the clearest vision of what is before them, glory and danger alike, and yet notwithstanding, go out to meet it.
quote by Thucydides
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A nation that draws too broad a difference between its scholars and its warriors will have its thinking done by cowards, and its fighting done by fools.
quote by Thucydides
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When Broken, Nothing Can Be Made Anew!
A broken door can"t be made like one new;
A broken fence needs to be mended well;
A broken wall has to be rebuilt much;
A broken branch cannot be fixed again!
A broken mirror cannot be made whole;
A broken toy cannot be glued like new;
A broken home cannot be back reset;
A broken marriage can't blossom once more!
A broken heart remains anguished for long;
A broken friendship stays estranged for sure;
A broken bone may heal but weakened stays;
A broken soul struggles for want of grace!
All things when newly made look simply great!
You cannot mend life's broken slate at all!
Copyright by Dr John Celes 17-08-12
poem by John Celes
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Men's indignation, it seems, is more excited by legal wrong than by violent wrong; the first looks like being cheated by an equal, the second like being compelled by a superior.
quote by Thucydides
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Justice will not come to Athens until those who are not injured are as indignant as those who are injured.
quote by Thucydides
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The Book Of Love
In the book of love come of age
When you lose your love, you turn the page
Hey-ho the book of love,
Life is written in your own blood
Say forever and it all sounds fine
When youre holding hands,
With the hands of time
Hey-ho the book of love
Laugh at the dead but tomorrow you cry
Chorus:
My broken hearts from a to z
Dos and donts on bended knees
Change of lovers endlessly
And this book of love is writing me
Chapter 2 you walk away
But in chapter 3 a man made me stay
Hey-ho the book of love
Why dontcha look up
All the games you played
Chorus
Theyll be sweet love in a darkness
But the book of love
Is a story of your loneliness
Finger tipped it on a holy night
And a page is ripped for a name of life
Check the back cause the datell be due
When theyll throw the book of love at you
They are broken hearts from a to z
Dos and donts on bended knees
Disappointed right to be
Celebrate a celebrity
K-i-s-s-i-n-g
Ah stupid cupid set me free
Took a look and whatll I see
This book of love is writing me
This book of love is writing me
This book of love is writing me
This book of love is writing me
song performed by by Cher
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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The Gods Do Not Intervene
The battle between Athens and Sparta lasted a lifetime and more.
Men who ate lentils
Were not interfeared with by any gods,
Said Thucydides,
who is the father of scientific history.
He did not outlive his own battle,
Dying suddenly by an iron sword.
His blood spurted on his pages,
But most were saved. If one reads Greek,
One can smell,
On the pages
Blood and lentils and pointed iron. And read the first truth about the horrors of war.
poem by Stan Petrovich
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Innocence Again
Do you remember when
You were way back then
You held the world inside your hands
When you told me love
Was the strongest stuff
Your strength was innocence
But, oh man
The signs of the times are omens
You're starting the day in
No man's land again
Who are you gonna be?
When you're on your knees, who do you believe? (oh, oh, oh)
Fear is a lonely man
You've been given innocence
You've been given innocence again
You should know by now
That your darkest hour
Is when your broken heart goes down
It's a bitter end
When the sweet begins
Grace is sufficiency
But, oh dear, we'll never deserve it
No dear, we never could earn it
Now, here the choice is yours
Who are you gonna be?
When you're on your knees, who do you believe? (oh, oh, oh)
Fear is a lonely man
You've been given innocence
You've been given innocence again
Grace is high and low
Grace is high and low
Grace is high and low
We'll never be the same
Who are you gonna be?
When you're on your knees, who do you believe? (oh, oh, oh)
Fear is a lonely man
You've been given innocence
You've been given innocence again
oh, oh, oh...
You've been given innocence, innocence, innocence.
Who are you gonna be...
You've been given innocence.
song performed by by Switchfoot
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Be convinced that to be happy means to be free and that to be free means to be brave. Therefore do not take lightly the perils of war.
quote by Thucydides
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